Monday 25 November Pangkor marina

Three day sails, or rather motors, brought us north from Port Dickson to Pangkor marina opposite Pangkor island. We had intended to leave Admiral marina on Friday but I came down with a bad dose of gastric flu which has been going around the fleet for the last two or three weeks and had to spend a day lying in my air conditioned bedroom. For the first two days of our passage I was still crook but able to function. By the time we reached Pangkor I was back to full health.

Our arrival at Pangkor wasn't as straight forward as we'd expected. As suggested by the marina we hailed them on the radio at midday as we approached the channel marker where you turn into the man made island. The answer we received was unexpected 'there's not enough depth of water for you to get in until 5 o'clock this afternoon. You'll have to anchor and we'll send a boat to guide you in later'. Miffed that no one had warned us about the problems of approaching at low water – we'd have timed our arrival for earlier or later in the day – we were further confused when the marina manager directed his guide boat to come out and guide all seven waiting boats in through the channel. There wasn't a problem with low water after all!

The marina is new and mostly caters for smaller boats than yachts. David reversed us into our spot with his usual skill and aplomb to allow me to hand our lines to the dock helpers but our bow still stuck out 4m beyond the end of the jetty. Cleats and power points were under supplied, but this is a new venture and I'm sure they'll add more as more yachts visit.

The poor marina staff were overwhelmed by the number of boats arriving at the same time and the power supply kept going off. Poor James the manager must have been asking why today. They later discovered someone cutting the grass nearby had also nicked the main power cable hence the 'shorting'.

The day did have a most happy ending. We were walking to town, about twenty minutes walk, when manage James pulled up in his car and offered us a lift to the Indian restaurant. He then joined us for dinner, suggested what to order and then with great generosity, wouldn't let us pay. From disgruntled to happy with one good curry. Good man James.